DUNMORE, Pa. — Penn State Scranton has been recognized among the top colleges in the region and state for academic quality, affordability and student success, earning accolades from U.S. News & World Report, Niche and readers of the Scranton Times-Tribune.
The latest rankings highlight the campus’ commitment to providing a high-quality Penn State education while creating opportunities for students to thrive academically, professionally and personally. In the 2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, which evaluate nearly 1,500 U.S. colleges and universities based on academic quality and student outcomes, Penn State Scranton was ranked No. 24 among Regional Colleges in the North, No. 13 among Top Public Schools in the Regional Colleges North category and No. 9 for Social Mobility among Regional Colleges in the North.
The Regional Colleges North category includes institutions that focus primarily on undergraduate education and serve students throughout the northeastern United States. Penn State Scranton's placement among the top public colleges in the region reflects the campus's strength in academic quality, student support and educational outcomes.
Penn State Scranton's ranking of No. 9 for Social Mobility places the campus among the region's leaders in helping students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds earn degrees and improve their long-term career prospects. The ranking recognizes institutions that successfully enroll and graduate students receiving Pell grants and create pathways to economic opportunity.
In addition to its national recognition from U.S. News & World Report, Penn State Scranton earned several distinctions in Niche's 2027 college rankings, which evaluate colleges based on academics, value, diversity, campus life and student experiences.
Among its highest honors, Penn State Scranton was named the No. 1 Best Value College in the Scranton Area, highlighting the campus' ability to combine academic excellence with affordability.
The campus also received statewide recognition in several categories:
- No. 16 Best Colleges for Nursing in Pennsylvania
- No. 21 Best Value Colleges in Pennsylvania
- No. 21 Best Colleges for Business in Pennsylvania
- No. 24 Best College Locations in Pennsylvania
- No. 30 Colleges with the Best Professors in Pennsylvania
- No. 38 Colleges with the Best Student Life in Pennsylvania
- No. 40 Most Diverse Colleges in Pennsylvania
These rankings reflect strengths across multiple aspects of the student experience, from classroom instruction and career preparation to campus engagement and community.
The campus' latest national and statewide recognitions are complemented by continued support from the local community. Penn State Scranton was also voted Best Local College in The Scranton Times-Tribune's Readers' Choice Awards for the third consecutive year. The annual award is determined by community voting and recognizes organizations that have earned the trust and support of residents across Northeastern Pennsylvania.